The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-11-20

from the others in the institution having
failed. One of the Judges is strouglyin IA
vor of fogging them as the only adequate
means of punishment.
Then Young man, with a low forehead
and a panied expression of countenance, IS
hurried forward to the bar and pleads guilty
to stealing 81 80. He explains that he was
drunk when he did it, and that he had just
recovered from having the deiriuIn tremens
in a padded cell at the Tombs Ills father,
a tall man, well known in the city as an al
most fanatical temperance lecturer, comes
forward and eagerly begs the Judge TO let
! the young man off with a light punishment,
and he is sent to prison for thirty days and
adiured to mend his ways A particularly
! timid looking prisoner, who Is forever Strok-
! ing his chin in a nervous manner. is called
! forward and asked by the stern clerk
whether or not he is guilty. He says mot
| guilty" in an uncertain tone of voice ana
then recognizes the prosecutor, who mods at
him and says: "Oh, yes, | remember you. "
The prisoner tries to court the prosecutors
favor by reaching forward TO shake hands
with him, but an officer escorts hin back to
the prisoners room at rapid gait and his
case is set down for trial on another day.
A lawyer with a round face and specta-
Giles, who has been retained to defend
youth charged with setting fire to a block
in the heart of the city, asks a postpoD-
ment of the trial because he has the ear
ache. He gets his hearts desire and then
the clerk calls the name of prisoner on
bail. Two shouts fail TO summon him and
the clerk shouts for the business man who
went his bail to produce the prisoner. The
business man fails to do it, and the entry
bail forfeited, which means so much to
the business man. is made On the record OF
the case.
A young and comely woman who has
been stealing quantity of women's cloth
ing and boys Overcoat pleads guilty to
the theft, and the Judge, who sometimes in
dulgeS in grim joke. asks her what in the
world she wanted of a boys overcoat.
With lack of speech surprising in a woIn-
an, she makes no reply She is sentenced to
S ate prison, but manifeSts no emotion when
she learns her fate. Very few tears are
wasted in these courts of General Sessions,
although they are the channels through
which flow the current of the principal
criminal cases that develop in the metropo
lis.
A young man, charged with picking pock-
cts, admits that he has been in State prison,
but says that he was driven TO crime be-
cause the story of his former imprisonment
followed him and drove him from work. He
grows eloquent as he tells his sad story, but
the court has to sentence him to a long
term in State prison, and hi walks away
with the suspicion of moisture in his eyes.
A very black man, charged with stealing a
pool ticket, pleads not guilty, says he has
ne money to hire lawyer The Judge calls
on young lawyer, near the railing front
ing the bar, to take the case. The attorney
looks not pleased. for he is allowed no
money for his service As an officer of the
court, however, he is compelled to under
take it and withdraws to consult with his
dusky client.
Thus the machinery grinds on. The
grand jury comes in, and all other business
waits until they are polled and have handed
up their huge package of indictments. The
grand jury is always III session in the brown
court house, one going on duty as soon as
another is discharged. There is brief re-
cess at l 80 O'Clock AMI the Judge retires to
eat luncheon broug a: to his room from a
restaurant Half an houl later the grind
begins again. Those who have wished to
plead have been disposed Of at the morning
session and the afternoon is devoted TO the
trial of jury case. Occasionally the trial
is suspended for moment 10 permit some
prisoner TO plead. One neatly-clad woman
with a care-worn face tottered to the bar
one day last week to answer to the charge
of setting fire to her own house. She was
the only really agitated prisoner of the day
1t was shown that she had no motive for
the deed and was worthy woman She
was discharged and was so moved at being
acquitted that she tottered from the court
room, fairly falling at the door as she went
out AMOS j. CUMMINGS